Twitter account helps Hudson residents donate items to others

Hudson -- A local family is hoping to cut-down on items chucked away in landfills while increasing recycling and helping others find still usable goods.

The Twitter account, @DonateHudsonOH, was recently created by Elizabeth Gross and her family to connect those who need items with those who have items.

"DonateHudsonOH is designed to link Hudson residents with other Hudson residents to donate to each other, free items they're done with rather than just throwing it out," Gross said.

Gross called her concept "simple."

"Join @DonateHudsonOH and ask for an item -- for instance a done-with birdcage or birdhouse or bird feeder or child boots or games or whatever," Gross said. "The idea is to keep it local, and be helpful to one another."

The idea of the Twitter account was born from a tweet from her parakeets, according to Gross, a freelance writer and wildlife garden designer.

Gross published an article during the winter which stated her family would pick up donated items for their wildlife gardening display. A few people responded and donated items, she said.

"Then about two weeks ago our parakeets started squabbling and my daughter and I thought we need another cage," Gross said.

The mother and daughter wanted to find someone who had an extra cage.

"Bingo, that got me thinking that perhaps there are others in Hudson who need something that maybe someone else here in town is getting rid of, and instead of throwing it out, they could donate it to someone locally, for free," Gross said. "So we went to twitter and set up 'Donate in Hudson, Ohio' at @DonateHudsonOH."

And while Gross is still waiting for a bird cage donation, she is hopeful the idea will take wing and fly.

The idea is to "link everyone in Hudson together to up the chances that someone needing something will connect with someone done with something and that by donation/recycling, we'll start helping each other. And in turn, the world, by creating less waste, which is a very positive thing."

Residents interested can follow @DonateHudsonOH and ask for an item.

"Then I re-Tweet it to the followers and connect people from there, most likely thru a direct message, for online privacy of addresses or phone numbers, Gross said. "We'd like everyone in Hudson to know about it, because the more that link up, the better chance someone will have an item someone needs and vice versa."